Meals on Wheels service back on the table in Merthyr Tydfil thanks to five women

The Meals on Wheels service has been relaunched in Merthyr Tydfil by five former staff members after it was scrapped by the council

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The scrapped meals on wheels service which was axed by Merthyr Tydfil Council earlier this year has been relaunched by five caring women.

Merthyr Valleys Meals on Wheels has been set up by former staff members Janice Yendle, Julie Hiscock, Julie Lewis, Elaine Phelps and Susan Rees – and already they have 100 customers on their books.

The business fills the void left by the council service, which was axed back in March to save £98,000 per year.

Janice, 60, had worked for the council’s meals on wheels service for 28 years.

She said: “We were upset when the council announced they were scrapping the service. We were losing our jobs and we were concerned for the older people too.

“We know there have to be cuts, there are cuts everywhere at the moment, but it still didn’t make it any easier. It was upsetting.”

Together, the five decided to relaunch the service, currently funded from their own purses.

For the past six weeks they have been temporarily housed at the Rock Summit Centre in Bedlinog, but last Monday they moved into permanent premises on Goat Mill Road in Dowlais.

They will now deliver hot cooked lunches at a cost of £4 for each meal to service-users across the borough.

“We started off cooking our own meals but then we contacted Apetito and Tillery Valley Foods, who used to supply the council.

“Because we worked there a long time, we knew the team and they agreed to supply us,” explained Janice, from Aberfan.

“Our customers are really pleased to see the service back, as it was a worry for a lot of people.

“And as well as looking after the elderly, it has meant we’ve been able to secure our own jobs, which is a huge relief.

“We are now looking for funding but haven’t had any joy so far.

“We have started with our own money and the council have given us some equipment, but we really need more equipment and vans to help us with our deliveries.”

Merthyr Valleys Meals on Wheels is expected to be welcomed by many elderly residents in the area who relied on the service.

Welcoming the restored service, an Age Cymru spokesman said: “We are living in a difficult and challenging economic climate and Age Cymru’s main concern at this time is that older people and older people’s services are not disproportionately affected by budget cuts.

“Age Cymru wants every community across Wales to be an age-friendly community that serves the needs of everyone – from cradle to the grave.

“Age-friendly communities provide everyone with the opportunities, facilities and services that they may need – for example meals on wheels – to lead rewarding and fulfilling lives.

“Without facilities such as these, there is a real possibility that older people can feel cut off from society and isolated.”

For more information about Merthyr Valleys Meals on Wheels or to help fund the service, call 0774 334 8456 or email valleysmow@sky.com